The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1887-12-09
THE AGRICULTURAL BUREAU.

Synopsis of The Annual Report of Commits
siOner Colin dn-The Work of the Bureau
of Animal Industry in Stamping Out
EsluerO-PneumOnia, Etc.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 2.-The annual re-
port of the Commissioner of Agriculture
has been laid before the President.
The commissioner recommends substantially
the abolition of the seed division Of the depart
ment and the transfer OF its duties to the State
and Territorial experiment stations The di-
rectors Of these institutions he says, ought to
know what kind of seed the farmers Of their
respective neighborhOods are interested in,
and what kinds are best adapted to each locah-
ty
The commissioner. discusses the scope and
functions of the department IN way which
leaves room for the plain inference that ne dis
approves the efforts to make it an executive do
partment with member of the Cabinet at its
head. The departments position. he thinks,
should be that OF an adviser in those investga
tions and enterprises which bear upon the agri.
cultural interests Of the country.
The commissioner says it is yet too early to
make an official statement Of the results in de
tail of the present years experiments in the
development of sorghum sugar manufacture;
''but, he adds, ''enough is known already,
think, to enable this country to anticipate at
an early date the production of a sugar supply
from plant as easy Of cultivation as corn,
but little circumserihed by climate influences,
and one whose by-products have a value equal
to the cost of raising
The work OF the Bureau Of Amin Il Industry,
the report says, has been greatly extended dur
ing the past year. The Governors Of thirty-one
States and Territories have accepted the rules
and regulations of the bureau and promised the
assistance Of local police officers to secure
their enforcement. In addition the Legisla-
lures of Rhode Island, Virginia, New York and
Illinois have enacted laws providing for co.
operation The worst infected counties, the
report says and tho from Which there
was most danger Of the spread
Of the disease, viz. those in the neigh
borhood of New York Chicago and Baltimore,
have been placed in quarantine, and no cattle
allowed to leave them without permit issued
AsVer a special examination. BY this means
new outbreaks have been almost entirely pre-
vented.
From the beginning Of the work for the
eradication Of this disease, in August, 1886,
to October 81, 1857 the inspectors of the
bureau have inspected 1887 herds, contain-
ing 11T.40G animals, in districts where
the plague was supposed to exist. Among
these there were found 79S infected
herds, containing 10766 animals, of which
2.2S5 were affected with pleurO-pneumOnia.
These figures do not include 1913 head of cat
tie in the distillery stables of Chicago, nearly
half of which were diseased. The number OF
animals found affected with the disease and
the number of infected head were much great
er than had been anticipated, and the work for
its control has consequently required a CORE
sponding1y larger force and greater expenditure
u A41OAGSs OuI PAO5ICSss AOMCFSA9 lbs bCCA
very satisfactory, and the appropriation has
been found sufficient to meet the demand.
which have been made upon 1t.
The commissioner expresses regret at the ua
avoidable loss inflicted on the farmers of I'LL
nois by the cattle quarantine, and adds: 'TheT'
has not been a time in years when this malady
has been confined to such restricted area as a
present, and consequently the conditions art
very favorable for its complete eradication. 1
the State authorities continue their eo-opera
tion as at present which there is every reasol
to expect, and if an appropriation is made b!
Congress equal to that Of the present fiscal year
and with authority for its similar use, it IS be
Heved that this dangerous plague can be ex
( terminated by the end OF the next fiscal year.
In his chapter upon the departments expert
ments in silk-reeling the commissioner says tht
experiments have not yet reached the point o
1 paying their own expenses, but that was hardl,
| 10 be hoped for with a plant SO limited. An
/ other years experience, it is expected, viii
/ show what could be done under favorable con
/ ditions.
/ The commissioner describes at some length
/ the work of the chronological, statistical
; microscopical, forestry and other divisions, ant
/ sets forth the usefelness of their accomplish
/ ments.
/ He recommends that the Public Printer b
4 authorized to furnish to the agricultural pres
( of the country, at the mere cost of labor ant
/ material, electrotypes Of such illustrations o
the department as the editors may desire, hold
ing that many of these merit much wider cir
culation than they can get in the reports OF tn
department
The commissioner says the building of resel
| voirs among the Rocky mountains for the stoT
age of an immense velume of water now waste
should command the early attention of Cor